The Royal Burgh of Kirkwall is the capital of the amazing Orkney archipelago, standing at the dividing point between East and West Mainland.
The town of Kirkwall was founded around 1035 by Earl Rognvald Brusason and quickly became the administrative centre of Orkney. With its harbour and airport, it is the arrival point for ferries from Shetland and Aberdeen, cruise ships, and flights from the UK, and departure point for ferries to the other islands in Orkney. It is the best place to stock up on supplies for heading on.
Kirkwall's best feature is perhaps its sandstone St Magnus Cathedral, widely considered the finest medieval building in the north of Scotland. The original town is one of the best preserved examples of an ancient Norse town. Other sites of historical interest in the town include including the Bishop’s Palace and Earl’s Palace.
Kirkwall was once a quiet place of contemplation but is now a bustling market town, a lively centre for shopping and eating out. Visitors will find a wide range of accommodation on the island that caters for long and short stays, bed and breakfast or self-catering.
Regional Info
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Inganess
Inganess Bay is located on the north eastern coastline of Mainland Orkney.
1.52 miles awayScapa
Scapa bay is found on the southern coastline of Mainland Orkney.
1.53 miles awayBalfour
Balfour is a small village situated in Elwick Bay on the Orkney island of Shapinsay.
2.86 miles away
Tankerness
Tankerness is a small settlement situated on Deer Sound, 5 miles south east of Kirkwall, on...
4.02 miles awayBay of Sandgarth
The Bay of Sandgarth is found on Shipinsay, Orkney
5.03 miles awayWaulkmill
Waulkmill beach is located on the southern coast of Mainland Orkney.
5.25 miles awayShapinsay
Shapinsay is a small, low-lying island just a few miles north east of Kirkwall in Orkney.
5.31 miles awaySkaill
This large sandy beach below Skara Brae is found on Mainland Orkney.
5.82 miles awayFirth
The parish of Firth lies between Kirkwall and Stromness on the north shoreline of the Bay of Firth...
6.03 miles awayHolm
The parish of Holm is six miles south of Kirkwall on Mainland Orkney, with splendid views over St...
6.03 miles awayFinstown
Finstown lies at the head of the Bay of Firth, halfway between Stromness and Kirkwall on Mainland...
6.23 miles awayRendall
The old West Mainland parish of Rendall is situated on Widefirth Bay, looking out to Kirkwall and...
7.34 miles awayOrphir/houton
Orphir overlooks Scapa Flow, situated between Kirkwall and Stromness on Mainland Orkney.
7.37 miles awayDeerness
Deerness is a peninsula located to the east end of Mainland, Orkney.
7.57 miles awayDingieshowe - Deerness
Dingieshowe beach is located in Orkney.
7.6 miles awayNewark Beach,
Newark Beach is found in Deerness, Orkney.
8.43 miles awayBurray
Burray is a small island between South Ronaldsay and the Orkney Mainland, in the south of the...
8.94 miles awayHarray
Harray is located 3 miles north west of Finstown, to the east of Loch of Harray, on Mainland Orkney...
9.28 miles awayStenness
The village of Stenness is situated at the south-east end of Loch of Stenness, south west of...
10.01 miles awayEvie
The village of Evie is located to the north of Mainland, Orkney, close to the Broch of Gurness.
10.51 miles awayAikerness Bay
Aikerness Bay is located in Evie, Orkney.
10.64 miles awaySt Margaret's Hope
The picturesque town of St Margaret's Hope is located at northern end of South Ronaldsay.
10.8 miles awaySands of Wright
The Sands of Wright is found on South Ronaldsay, Orkney.
10.92 miles awayDounby
Dounby is a village on Mainland Orkney located to the north of the Loch of Harray, 14 miles north...
11.41 miles awayFlotta
Flotta, from the Norse for 'flat isle'.
12.02 miles awayRousay, Egilsay, Wyre & Eynhallow
Amidst the great tides of the Atlantic and the North Sea lies a group of islands that encompasses...
12.51 miles awayStromness
The captivating old town of Stromness is located on the shore of Hamnavoe, an inlet of Scapa Flow,...
12.7 miles awaySouth Ronaldsay
South Ronaldsay is the nearest parish to Mainland Scotland, being just 6.5 miles across the...
12.88 miles awaySandwick
Sandwick is a large parish on the west side of Mainland Orkney, to the west of Dounby.
13.09 miles awayMidhowe
Midhowe is found on Rousay, Orkney.
13.2 miles awayWarebeth
Warebeth is a beach on the south west coast of Mainland Orkney.
13.54 miles awayBirsay
Birsay, in Orkney's West Mainland, boasts the ruins of the once mighty Earl's Palace.
13.79 miles away
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